Cuts and Bruises (ON HOLD)

Chapter Fifteen: Oh, Embarassment.

He smiles down at me. I had to crane my neck to be able to see him. I was a measly 5"7' while he was a towering 6"4'. I wondered what he was doing here so late at night.

"I'm here because I wanted to know how you're doing. What, with your brother and all," He said as if reading my mind. I nodded and gave him a tight-lipped smile. He held his arms out and I reluctantly let him wrap them around me.

"So, will you come in?" I asked. He smiled and nodded as I led him to the couch. He was dressed in his military fatigues. He's been on a call to Iraq for the past six months. He'd gotten home a couple weeks ago and I'd went to see him, knowing Wendy would never take me.

"So, how much have you heard?" I asked Dad.

"I've gotten him a good lawyer and as of now it seems to be strictly a self defense case. He should win, as long as no new evidence arrives." I smiled and let out a sigh of relief. The doorbell rang once again and Iris and Ash, who had been sitting, playing on their phones, both got up to answer it. Blaze entered the living room after greeting them. He noticed me but he had never seen my dad before. I laughed slightly at the confusion that registered on his face.

"Blaze, this is my dad, Philip." He nodded slowly as he held out his hand. Noticing the fatigues, he took his hand back and saluted, smiling. Dad stood up and took Blaze's hand to shake. He glanced at me, smiling wryly.

"This your boyfriend?" Dad asked me. Ash and Iris giggled as I glared at them and then my dad. I just nodded.

"Wonderful." He began digging through a cabinet next to the couch.

"Dad... What are you doing?" I asked worriedly.

"You'll see." He winked at me and continued digging. Blaze took a seat and reached for my hand but pulled back quickly. I guessed he was only embarrassed about the fact my dad was here.

"Here we go!" Dad shouted. I looked up at him, confused, until my eyes landed on what he held in his hand.

"Dad!" I whined.

"Oh hush, Lexi." Dad stuck his tongue out and I did the same. I smiled at his nickname; he was the only one that called me Lexi or Lexis. 

Dad opened up a book of my baby pictures and took a seat in between Blaze and I on the couch. I groaned as he began pointing to pictures. I couldn't help but laugh at how childish he was. Blaze glanced up at me, laughing at my dad's stupid remarks. Iris and Ash crowded around the back of the couch to see the book.

"She was exactly like that shy girl from The Breakfast Club," Dad said as he pointed to me hiding my face behind my straight brown bangs when I was around seven. "She'd just put her head down and shake out her bangs to hide her face, kind of like she does now," He ruffled my hair. I shook my bangs down and peered out from behind them, making everyone laugh.

"Like that!" Dad laughed. I couldn't help but smile. He was right.

"Hey dad, you know how that shy girl ends up with the wrestler in the end of the movie?"

"Spoilers, my dear! Warn the poor kids that have yet to see the beautifulness that is The Breakfast Club, but yes, I remember." I laughed at how corny he was.

"Well, Blaze is a boxer." I smiled at Blaze as he looked down to hide his pink-tinted cheeks.

"Is he, now?" Dad turned his attention to Blaze. He nodded.

"Well, I'll have to see my future-son-in-law fight someday. Maybe you'll have a future in the military." Dad wanted everyone and their cousin's best friend's brother to be in the military and I hated it. He always talked about it, which was great for him, and maybe Blaze. Just because Blaze and my brothers would be good in the military didn't mean I wanted them to go. I could barely stand it when Dad was gone. If it weren't for the military I wouldn't have to live with Wendy.

"You really think so, sir?" Blaze asked, his eyes filled with light. Dad smiled and nodded. Blaze sighed happily and smiled.

"So, on a serious note, I have to ask darling, how has life been going? I heard about your best friend, and by the strong odor of whiskey and vomit, I can tell your mother's been drinking again."

"Again is an understatement. She drinks every night and day and fights and yells and screams. I don't even know where that cheating liar of a husband of hers is." I replied honestly. Dad actually cared. He looked away, disgusted. As if on cue, Wendy walked down the stairs in a ratty t-shirt and pajama pants. She scowled as she saw Philip.

"Speak of the devil," I whispered under my breath. My dad held in his laughter.

"So, Lexi, what do you say about coming over to my house for the next couple weeks that I'm not on tour?" Dad asked suddenly. My eyes brightened.

"Seriously? Of course I'd love to!" I stood up and started to run up the stairs but froze dead in my tracks. The look on Wendy's face was one of anger and I didn't want to be in the way.

"Fine with you, Wendy?" Dad asked bitterly.

"Yeah. Take her. I don't need her. She's just a worthless nuisance." She practically spit in the same tone my father had used. I ran up the stairs quickly to gather my things, Blaze and the girls following. I could hear Wendy and Dad yelling from downstairs. I grabbed a bag and stuffed my toothbrush, hairbrush, make-up, and a couple pairs of clothes in it. I pulled on my beanie and threw my snapback to Blaze. I heard the sound of shattering glass as I grabbed my phone.

"Lexi, let's go, sweetheart!" I slung my bag over my shoulder and ran down the stairs. I jumped over the pile of broken glass from the vase next to the couch. Wendy was gone and Dad stood in the open doorway. I slipped on my shoes and followed him out. I climbed into Dad's car with Iris and Ash in the back. Blaze was following us in his own car.

"Your mother is a bitch. Don't let any of her words hurt you. They mean nothing because they come from nothing." Dad said angrily. I looked at him with puppy dog eyes. I'd never heard him ever speak bitterly of anyone.

"It's the truth..." He said quietly and trailed off. I looked back out the window as he put on the radio for noise.

"Every rose has it's thorns

Just like every night has it's dawn

Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song

Every rose has it's thorns

Yeah it does."